FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2019
Reform Movement Condemns Proposal Expanding Religious Exemptions for Federal Contractors
WASHINGTON – In response to the Department of Labor’s announcement of a proposed rule to expand religious exemptions for federal contractors in employment, Barbara Weinstein, Director of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the wider Reform Movement institutions:
“By allowing federal contractors and subcontractors to discriminate in hiring and firing on the basis of their religious beliefs, the Department of Labor’s proposed rule authorizes government-funded discrimination against women, religious minorities, LGBTQ people, and other marginalized groups. Sadly, this proposed rule is the latest in a series of efforts by the Trump administration to promote discrimination under the guise of religious liberty.
“As Jews, we know all too well the dangers of government-sanctioned discrimination. We oppose such sweeping religious exemptions for employers who accept government contracts and believe that taxpayer money should never be used to fund bigotry. The Department of Labor must rescind this proposal.”
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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose more than 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.
